Mr. Fixit Guy to the Rescue

Family and friends the days just keep moving forward.

Monday we started our phone calling for the new month. This is the last of the PEF phone calls we will make. Pal Chakriya and But Lum Ang, two of our PEF students that are studying to become doctors came for their payment requisitions. We also received a visit from Elder and Sister Westover. Sister Westover's laptop is sick. Dale worked most of Monday saving their information. He is hopeful that their lap top can be saved.  By evening the problem was not resolved. He called the Westovers to report that he would keep trying to resolve the problem but also warned them that they may need to take their laptop to ANANA, the main computer sales and repair business here in Phnom Penh.

We walked home in the rain. I wore my poncho and Dale used his umbrella. We got home before the streets filled up.

Monday evening  we met with the other Senior Couples to the Tell Restaurant. We were having a farewell dinner for Elder and Sister Yeates.

Sister Westover, Elder Yeates, Sister Yeates, Sister Capener, Elder Capener, Elder Kohls, Sister Kohls, Sister Meier, Elder Meier, Elder Westover.



As we got seated at the table Elder Kohls approached Dale to announce that his laptop was having problems. "Take a ticket and stand in line". Hopefully no one will have computer problems once Dale leaves. If they do let us pray the Lord will provide another computer "Mr. Fix It Guy".  We were told there are four new couples coming to the Phnom Penh Mission. Three couples will arrive in August and one in September. Perhaps there will be more. It would be great to have more couples for member leader support. Member leader support is not an inexpensive mission. All the couples we have talked to in Cambodia that do member leader support have all purchased cars with the added expenses of  licensing, car repairs and tips for the parking lot attendants and bribes for the police. Unless they know the Khmer language well they need to hire a translator. There are always behind the scene expenses too.  Member leader support couples are usually assigned to more than one branch.  The Senior Couple is treated very special and is invited to weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, graduations and whatever else might be a time to celebrate. This means open your pocketbook and shake vigorously.

The evening spent with the Yeates was enjoyable.  They told amazing accounts of what transpired during their 23 months serving in Battambang. They truly made a difference for the people there. After observing mothers washing their children in filthy water and seeing that these children had sores on their bodies the Yeates found a way to get Battambang on a list to receive wells to bring clean water to the people's homes. Once the wells were in place and being used the children began to heal. Besides the wells they were able to contact an organization in the United States out of Utah that provided nutritional kits to families. This organization was only going to offer this project to the Phnom Penh area. The Yeates were able to convince them of the need also in Battambang. If you recall in one of our past blogs we had taken a picture of a young man with a deformed mouth that we had met at the bat caves. We were visiting the Yeates in Battambang at the time. The Yeates contacted Operation Smiles or an organization similar to it and were able to help this young man. We did not see the after operation picture of him, but Elder Yeates said that the young man has a great smile now.  The Yeates also helped an older mother who had lived for years with the same problem. Through their efforts instructing the members how to do Home and Visiting Teaching they were able to reactive five families that had left the Church years ago. They were guided and directed to the lost sheep throughout their mission. They worked hard to learn the language and Elder Yeates taught many lessons to the saints in their native language. The final week of their mission they escorted 30 members of the Church to the Manila Temple. The world is very small when you are a member of the Church. Elder Yeates was unaware that one of his mission companions from when he was a young man is presently serving in the Philippines. They were reunited at the Manila Temple. It was a chance meeting.  What a wonderful reunion for them. The Yeates reported experience after experience and miracle upon miracle. The evening went too quickly.  They testified that there are no coincidences. The Lord is in charge and stands by to help His children. We each must trust Him and move forward in faith. When we come up against obstacles we are to work to find solutions, come up with a  plan and present it to the Lord. If it is a good plan the Lord will support us in our efforts to accomplish whatever it is we need to do. 

Tuesday Dale continued to work on Sister Westover's laptop. I spent my time calling our students. I can honestly say that I will not miss sitting at a desk day in and day out making phone calls. I did have success in making connection with a few of our students that have been near impossible to contact. That made me happy. Two students came to the office for their payment requisitions. Since I can not print from my computer Dale handles the paperwork for all loans. Kuntheavy, the CES secretary, still had graduation certificates to print. Since her printer has been broken for at least five years she uses ours. She was at Dale's computer for about an hour. I used to feel guilty about using CES paper. Dale commented, "Why? Computer ink is far more expensive than a ream of paper."  We left work, walked home and did our exercises. We got cleaned up and then went with the Westovers and Khols to the airport to bid farewell to the Yeates. I actually got a little teary eyed as they vanished up the escalator and out of sight.

Elder Meier, Sister Meier, Sister Moon, President Moon, Elder Yeates, Sister Yeates, Sister Kohls, Elder Kohls, Elder Westover, Sister Westover


WE ARE NEXT TO GO!!

Sister Loy, Loy Chetana, Sister Yeates, Elder Yeates, Un Sophallaroth, Un Sophallara

Sophallaroth and Chetana served their mission together. They were the Yeates' first Sister Missionaries that lived in their house and served with them.

The Loys traveled several hours to be at the airport to say goodbye to the Yeates.


Run Yzabellune asked Sophornn to ask us to come to her wedding on August 2 and 3. She is marrying a German man and needs "white proxy parents" for her groom. This tradition is crazy. She wants us at the North District Center on Friday morning August 2 from 9-11 and Saturday morning from 6-9!! We will have to take a tuk tuk to the opposite end of town. We are not exactly sure what we will be doing besides smiling for photos. At first we did not know who had asked us to be their parent proxies. It was because we don't hear words well when Khmer speak. I asked Kuntheavy to write Yzabellune's name for me and then I knew exactly who she was. She is a bubbly young lady we met when we first came to the country. We actually haven't seen her since Christmas. When Sophorrn told us what we were asked to do we told him that we did not know her.  He said, "Oh yes you do...you know her very well." He said, "If you see her you will know her." He is right. We told Sophornn that we could not do the Saturday morning activity because Elder and Sister Wyler are arriving at the airport at 10:25 that same morning. Sophorrn said he promised we could do both and that we could get to the airport on time. He said, "The airport is very close." This should be interesting. We definitely will be on a tight time schedule. Dale wants to open a business in Cambodia [White Couple For Rent for Weddings]. Kuntheavy said that she actually did make money as a standin for a wedding party. Her purpose was to help make the pictures look good. She said she got about $15 and free food. We don't foresee making a profit off of this event. If anything it is going to cost us money and time. Out of respect for Yzabellune we are honored that she would consider us. We will ignore the fact that there aren't too many of us "old white couples" left to choose from.

Wednesday a few students came to our office for loan payment requisitions. One student came to tell us that she is no longer attending school and does not need anymore loan money.  She had paid for her Bachelor's degree in accounting on her own. She originally came to us because her funds were low and she needed to improve her English skills for her job. She requested a loan to study English at Panasastra University. Dale was able to get special permission to allow her to do this. She has now chosen to take an English course somewhere else for a minimal fee. She will pay for this on her own. She is getting married in November and will be traveling frequently between Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham. With all the traveling it is better for her not to take the college English courses. This new plan allows her the flexibility to study English at her own pace and when her schedule permits.

Dale worked on our picture cards which we will distribute to "our closest friends". We were not sure what we wanted to do for a picture. Dale found a photo that is actually posted in our blog of us walking down the street. It is a good representation of our daily life in Cambodia. It isn't the best quality picture nor the best picture of us but it is just fine. Reality check... the photo will be filed away somewhere and lost in the archives of the photo box. If it was going to be displayed in the Hall of Fame I might protest. But under the circumstances it is perfectly fine. It is tradition to distribute picture cards when missionaries are released.  We can't break tradition can we? Oh the shame!

After spending additional hours on the Westover's laptop Dale finally surrendered. We boarded a tuk tuk Wednesday afternoon and went to the mission home. We met with Elder Westover.  Dale explained the situation to him.  We walked together to ANANA. It was a good thing that Dale did not just send the laptop and Elder Westover to ANANA.  He spent about an hour explaining to the repairmen exactly what the problem was and what needed to be done.  Fortunately there was one young man that spoke some English. We hoped he would be able to make a ghost copy of the Westover's laptop information and then re-install it. The cost of a new laptop in Cambodia is double what you would pay in the USA.  We really did not want them to have to purchase a new machine. We also did not want them to lose their information. Dale had done a backup at work just in case.

From ANANA we went back to the mission home. Elder Westover gave us a ride to our apartment. We arrived home about 5:00. We climbed the stairs to the 14th floor and did our routine exercises on the stationery bikes. Exercise is helping us feel more fit. After our exercising we cleaned up, ate dinner and Dale did computer stuff and I crashed on the bed.

Thursday I started the day with good intentions to call all of our students that required a voice contact this month. I dialed each person's number several times. I was able to speak to about four people. There are lots more than four people to contact.  Fortunately there is still plenty of month left.  Elder Westover called to tell us that ANANA was able to fix their laptop. Hurray!! It cost them about $129.  Dale said the same repair in the states would cost up to $300.  What a blessing that Dale was able to speak with the technician. It resulted in quick and good results.

Friday we spent the day doing routine office work. Dale has been cleaning up the Church computer for Elder and Sister Wyler. As we were working we received a call from Elder and Sister Kohls. Elder Kohls said their tuk tuk always seems to stop in front of USA Donut. They were bringing in their laptop for Dale to check out. He asked if we would like an apple fritter. Of course! We always enjoy our visits with the Kohls. They arrived around lunch time. Unfortunately they missed some of their Skype appointments with Hong Kong because their laptop was sick. Dale worked some computer fix it magic. He thought the problem was resolved. The Kohls left and we carried on with our regular Friday activities.  I had a small diversion because Sophornn and his wife have a baby due at the end of this month. I really do not know where to purchase cards so I used scrap paper and ribbon I had from Christmas to make a baby gift card. I am sure Dale thought I was wasting time. I finished it on Saturday and he said it looked nice. Since it is difficult for me to shop here we will just slip money in the card and let Sophornn and Ludy do the shopping.

Friday after work we once again climbed the stairs to floor 14. After returning to our apartment we cleaned up. I had just finished drying my hair when we got a phone call from Elder Kohls. The Skype was not working on their lap top. They had some important calls to make Saturday morning. We got dressed and went to their apartment. Sister Kohls and I had a good conversation while Dale and Elder Kohls worked on the computer. Dale was able to trouble shoot and get their laptop working correctly. The blessing was it did not take a whole lot of time. We visted a little longer and then said our goodbyes. We had not eaten dinner so we walked to Lucky Burger. I was going to do our laundry but it was late by the time we got home. Since we only work until noon on Saturday and this particular Saturday we had no extracurricular activities I knew I had a second chance to clean the clothes.

Saturday morning we walked to work. I was able to contact a few more students. I finished the baby gift card I had been working on. Dale continued to clean up the computer for Elder and Sister Wyler. He also was getting our own information in order. There is personal information that needs to be cleaned off the Church computer. I did a little more shredding and cleaning too. At noon we walked home. We ate some lunch and then went to the grocery store to pick up a few staples. We do not want to purchase too much because we will be going home soon. Before we went to our apartment after shopping I told Dale that I wanted to check out the laundry room to see how busy it was. It wasn't busy!  And to my great surprise there are three brand new washing machines. Besides being new the instructions are in English!!! I could not be happier. It only took two hours to do three loads of  laundry. There were no problems at all.  I was able to wash my clothes in the daylight hours and there were no rat sightings. Can the blessings get any better than this???

See happy Debbie. The blessings just keep coming!

Baking chocolate crinkle cookies in my Betty Crocker Easy Bake oven.

Drats! The back row burned. The blessing was that all other cookies came out perfectly. This is a great recipe by the way!

Saturday afternoon was really hot. Dale decided he wanted to take a dip in the pool. As we came to the roof the weather changed and so did Dale's plan. Instead of swimming he took pictures.  He stopped shooting pictures when the sky opened up.

Looking towards the bridge to Kean Svaay Branch. (Tonle Bassac River)

The weather can change quickly. When the rain comes so does the wind.






Sunday we went to Tuol  Tom Pong Branch. It was a good day for us. When we got home we learned that Stuart, our son-in-law, while participating in the STP (Seattle to Portland Bike Ride) crashed on his bike near Olympia. He was transported by ambulance to a hospital in Olympia.  He broke his clavicle. He was wearing a very good helmet which probably saved him from more serious injuries. He is home now. The human body is pretty amazing in how it can heal. We ask that you remember Stuart, Jenni and their family in your prayers as they deal with this challenge.

This week may you find the little miracles in each day.  If you look for them you will find them.